Shoe lace



June 24, 1930. W, C, BREADON 1,767,732

SHOE LACE Filed April 2, 1929 Figi.

S14/vento@ W|LL|AM GBREADON Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. BREADON, OF ASTORIA, NEW YORK SHOE Application filed April 2,

The invention relates to an improved method and lacing for all types of laced footwear and has particular reference to means disposed -in the form of the usual eyelet type of shoe or boot having interlaced therein a lacing member composed of a f-abric covered extensible or elastic lace the ends of which engage retaining means in one or more of said eyeletsfor fastening and holding said lace in place, thus providing a lacing means for such articles ofewear eliminating the loosening or displacing of same to remove the shoe or boot from the foot and further providing a lacing means that will at all times retain its original form and-permit the shoe or boot to slightly extend or expand at the point of lacing or over the crown of the foot obviating the injurious present method of holding said boot or shoe structure taught across the foot which impedes the free blood circulation at a point in the hum-an anatomy where it is most vital. I'

Another object of the invention resides in the fact that it provides a new method of lacing footwear of the type employing laces wherein there is absolutely rio-crossing of the laces at any point, also that there are no free or tying ends of the laces and by reason l0 of such result present a means of lacing boots and shoes in not only a more practicable manner, but a far more sightly manner than any of the present day forms of interlacing laced footwear and further the invention employs approximately one half or less of the actual lace required in the present methods of utilizing shoe laces.

In the following there is described the general embodiment of the invention, the real 4.0 and essential features thereof being more clearly pointed out hereinafter in the claim. In the drawings Fig. 1, is a fragmentary elevational view partly in longitudinal section of the rubber covered and fabric covered lace, showing the relative ends thereof fastened in the retaining eyelets of Which there are two to each shoe; Fig. 2, is a plan elevation of the toe portion of a shoe showing the new form of lacing the result of which 5@ indicates a single directional disposed lace,

-LACE 1929. Serial No. 351,902.

without the usual criss-crossing of same and Without the excessive tying ends; and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the rubber or elastic core fabric covered lace and an end view of one of the retaining or fastening eyelets employed in the method.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, l designates Vthe lacing portion or upper of an usual type of shoe provided with the vent 2 and upon therelative edges thereof eyelets 3 at the closed end of vent 2 on one side thereof -a retaining eyelet 4 is placed and at the top of the shoe 05 upper or opened end of vent 2, a like retaining e'yelet 4 is placed, each of said eyelets 4 being slotted or .split at 5 to permit of the insertion therein of the lace and having formed out of the body thereof opposite said'split depressed prongs G, arranged to grip the outer fabric cover of the lace when disposed therein, and retain the. ends of thel lace securely when laced in said shoe in the manner as described.

The lace employed with the invention need only consist of a lace of one half the usual lform of shoe lace generally used, and in this method consists of a single strand lace con1 prised of a rubber or elastic core 7 provided so with a fabric cover 8, the object of which is to provide a lacing member `that will extend,give or be of suiicient resilience to permit the shoe to give freely with the movement of the foot during its use and to further permit of the putting on and taking off of the shoe from a wearers foot 'without unlacing or displacing the position of the lace in the shoe. By reason of such extendibility of the lacing element of the shoe, there is also provided the highly beneficial result of permitting unin'ipeded blood circulation in the foot of the wearei` of the. article.

The means and elements employed in the invention may be varied in many ways without departing from the general scope of the structure as is shown, described and claimed herein.

What I claim and desire to secure by Iletters Patent of the United4 States, is

A device of the character described including a shoe provided With' eyelets ar- 5 ranged to receive an extensible lacing means, the free ends of which are anchored to two or more of said eyelets having formed therewith prongs adapted to engage said 'lace to hold same against movement, the elasticity lo of said lace providing means permitting the expansion of said shoe at the point of lacing thereof. l

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this 26th day of 15 March, 1929.

WILLIAM C. BREADON. 

